Rotary web under-surface printing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,5; ATTORNEY,

Nov- 21, 1933- F. c. MARQUARDT I ROTARY WEB UNDER-SURFACE PRINTINGMACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 19:52

. 1-3 1 ?Luigi-115%? I I:

Nov. 21, 1933. v c MARQUARDT v 1,936,068

ROTARY WEB UNDER-SURFACE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WWW I A ATTORNEY.

' Nov. 21, 1933 F. c. MAKRQUARDT 1,936,068

ROTARY WEB UNDER-SURFACE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 3 J Q 48 w K Mam (g INVENTOR WW/W J4; ATTORNEY Nov. 21,1933- F. c. MARQUARDT 1,935,068

ROTARY WEB UNDER-SURFACE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ROTARY WEB UNDER-SURFACE PRINTING MACHINE Frank C.Marquardt, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Bank Note Company, NewYork, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application October 28,

20 Claims.

chine of this type embodying therein means by which the succeedingimpressions upon the web may be brought into accurate, spaced butclosely adjacent relation to each other.

The rotary printing machine disclosed in the Letters Patent abovereferred to, is designed particularly for printing postage stamps fromengraved, intaglio or undersurface steel printing plates upon acontinuous web of paper. Said machine has three such printing platesupon the plate cylinder, these plates being spaced apart in relation toeach other, so as to afford intervals during each rotation of the platecylinder during which the wiping and polishing webs may be fed followingeach wiping and polishing operation and preparatory to their action uponthe succeeding plate upon the cylinder notwithstanding that the platecylinder is continuously rotated. In said machine, the paper web isadvanced in intermittent steps through the machine as a result r of theclamping action thereon developed by a printing plate and the blanketupon the impression cylinder or D-roll, the feeding of the web ceasingimmediately upon the passing of the impression cylinder or D-rollblanket from its engaging relation with a plate.

In steel printing plates, each plate has a marginal blank edge and inthe machine above referred to the paper web is clamped between thisblank marginal edge and the impression cylinder or D-roll blanket, thusleaving a blank space between impressions.

At the present time, postage stamps in rolls are extensively used andwhen stamps are produced from plates having marginal edges, it isnecessary to paste rows of stamps together to form such rolls. Whilemachines are in use which have the steel printing plates in closelyabutting relation to each other so as to form a continuous impressionupon the web, it is diflicult with such machines to so wipe and polishthe plates as to have uniform, clear, sharp lines in the impressionsmade thereby.

With the above conditions in mind, I have pro- 1932. Serial No. 640,057

ensure the locating of the succeeding impression upon the web, closelyadjacent, but spaced slightly from the preceding impression. In thismanner, overfeed of the web occurring during printing is compensatedfor.

The construction of the mechanism for thus drawing back the web is suchas to permit extreme accuracy, not only in the timing of the variousparts thereof in relation to the movements of the plate while engagedwith the impression cylinder or D-roll, but as to the extent of theretrograde movement of the web.' This latter is essential because of thenecessity of spacing the stamps in succeeding impressions, a distancesubstantially equal to the spacing between different stamp designs uponthe same plate in order to permit the use of rolls of stamps in variousdifferent stamp applying or delivery machines without the accumulationof error arising from an unequal spacing of stamps in the roll.

The mechanism of the invention is so constructed as to permit adjustmentto accommodate the machine to plates of different sizes and also permita great nicety in the timing of the operation of the various parts ofthe mechanism to secure a proper stoppage of the feeding of the Web andits retrograde movement following such stoppage and preparatory to thesucceeding feeding movement of the web.

A printing press embodying the invention is provided with a throw-offmechanism to interrupt the making of impressions by the machine, and themechanism of the invention is also so constructed that upon theactuation of the throwoff mechanism, the web will be automatically heldwhile it is being fed by the members of the printing couple, but asimilar stress is applied thereto during the retrograde movement of theweb so as to ensure the necessary short positive movement thereof andaccuracy in its back feed. This latter is desirable because the drawingback of the web is a short rapid movement and during this movement, itis under no restrain from the members of the printing couple.

The timing and the operation of the various elements controlling themovements of the web for securing the desired spacing of succeedingimpressions and in relation to the printing interval as to each plateupon the plate cylinder, is secured by means of cams carried by theplate cylinder shaft, these cams being adjustable circumferentially ofthe cylinder as determined by the position of the plates upon thecylinder. Each cam is also adjustable as to length so as to adapt themachine for use with plates of different sizes and also to ensureaccuracy in the timing of the mechanism in its operative efiect upon theweb in a manner which will more fully appear hereinafter.

While the cams are so formed as to develop a definite length of throw ofthe co-operating member determining the extent of retrograde movement ofthe web, other adjustments are provided. by which the operative effectof such cams be varied so as to permit extreme accuracy in the movementsof the parts in thus imparting movement to the web. These adjustmentsmay also be used to make the drawback mechanism totally inoperative sothat the machine may be used to print succeeding impressions in spacedrelation to each other as determined by the ginal edges of the printingcouple.

The invention consists primarily in a rotary web undersurface printingmachine embodying therein the combination with an impression cylinderand a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of printing elementsin spaced relation to each other, of means controlling the web movementincluding therein co-operating clamp members operative upon a web, meansactuating said clamp members to alternately impart movement theretotoward and from the plate cylin and means making said clamp membersinoperative upon the web during the making of an impression, and formaking said clamp members operative upon the web during movement of saidclamp members from said plate cylinder; and in such other novel featuresof construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forthand described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation at one side of a printing machine embodying theinvention adjacent the members of the printing couple;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the web controlling mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. d is a detail view of the clamp mechanism alone partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for imparting movement to theclamp mechanism toward and from the plate cylinder;

Fig. 6 is a detail view or the throw-ch mechanism disassociated fromother parts of the web controlling mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view of the members; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the web tensioning mechanism.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown only those portions of theprinting machine disclosed in the above named Letters Patent which areessential to an understanding of the construction and function of thoseparts employed in securing accuracy in the web movement for the purposeof securing the desired closely adjacent spacing of succeedingimpressions upon the paper web. The operation of those portions of themachine are well known from said Letters Patent and may be varied.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the plate cylinder is shown atIt and the impression cylinder or D-roll at 11. The plate cylinder is camp adapted to carry three plates 12, 13 and 14 spaced in relation toeach other, the distance between succeeding plates approximating thelength of the gap indicated at 15 in the impression cylinder or D-roll.

In printing upon a web in a machine having a printing couple with spacedprinting surfaces, the run of the web is intermittent since it occursonly during the engagement of the blanket of the impression cylinder orD-roll with a plate upon the plate cylinder, and when it is desired tohave impressions irom succeedin plates closely adjacent each other, itis necessary to impart retrograde movement to the web following themaking of each impression.

In a machine embodying the invention, I provide a clamping mechanismadapted to act upon the web, including means whereby the clampingmembers may be actuated to engage them with the web when a retrogradeweb movement is required and disengage them from the web while it isbeing fed by the members of the printing couple, a properly timedactuating mechanism for this means, and a properly timed actuating meansfor imparting movement to the clamping members toward and from themembers of the printing couple for imparting the desired amount ofretrograde movement to the web. The actuating mechanism for the clampmembers and the actuating means for imparting movement to the clampinclude cams located adjacent each plate upon the plate cylinder.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the actuatingmeans for imparting movement to the clamping members includes therein acarriage 16, slidably mounted in suitable guideways in the opposite sideframes or the machine so as to be capable of movement toward and fromthe members 10 ll; of the printing couple. Acting upon this carriage isa spring rod 17, the tension of the spring of which is increased withmovement of the carriage from the plate cylinder and acts to impartmovement of the carriage toward the plate cylinder to an extent definedby an adjustable stop mechanism controlling the operative efiect of theactuating means employed for imparting the desired timing movement tothe carriage.

The actuating means operative upon the car riage 16 as shown in thedrawings include a toothed rack, such as 18 upon the under side of thecarriage adjacent each side of the machine. Below the rack is a shaft 19extending across the machine having keyed'thereto a gear 20 en meshedwith each rack. Only one such gear and rack is shown in the drawings, itbeing under-' stood that the mechanism. may be duplicated to ensure anaccurate right-line movement of the carriage. Y

A second shaft 21 extends across the machine adjacent the shaft 19, thisshaft carrying gears 22 enmeshed with the, gears 26. Also carried by theshaft 21 is a pinion 23 enmeshed with which is a gear segment 24 carriedby one arm of an oscillatory bell crank lever 25, the other arm of whichhas mounted thereon an anti-friction roller 26. Adjacent the gearsegment carrying arm of the lever 25 is a stop 27 co-operating with anadjustable micrometer stop screw 23 carried by said arm. screw 28 areused to determine the lineal traverse of the carriage in a manner to bemore fully referred to hereinafter.

Supported by the carriage 16 at opposite sides thereof are fittings 29having vertically extend- This stop 27 and co-operating stop ing waystherein, indicated at 30, permitting vertical movement of guide blocks,such as 31, carrying a platen bar 32 provided with any desired frictionfacing material 33. This platen bar 32 extends transversely of themachine so as to engage theentire width of the paper web passing throughthe machine.

Extending transversely across the machine, from fitting to fitting 29,is a fixed platen bar 34 also provided with a friction surface. This barextends parallel with the bar 32, said friction bars 32 and 34constituting the clamp members herein referred to. The clamp bar 32 isnormally engaged with the clamp bar 34 by the action of a spring rod 35.The means whereby the clamping members may be actuated to engage themwith, or disengage them from, the web, in the form of the inventionshown, includes therein a bell crank lever 36, having a forked arm 37straddling a bearing stud 38 carried by the block 31. The bell cranklever 36 is carried by and imparts inovementto a shaft 39 extendingtransversely of the machine, the bell crank lever and spring rodmechanism being duplicated upon opposite sides of the machine.

Secured to the shaft 39, at one side of the machine only, is a rock 46carrying an antifriction roller 41, this rock arrn being unconnectedwith any part of the machine excepting the shaft 39. Mounted below theroller 41 is an elongated shoe 42 normally disengaged from, but adaptedto engage and impart movement to, the rock arm 40.

The actuating mechanism for the means controlling the movements of theclamp members, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings,includes an elongated shoe 42 supported by spaced rock arms 44 and 45idly mounted respectively upon the shaft 21 and upon a bearing 46adjacent the stop 27. By means of these rock arms parallel verticalmovement may be imparted to the shoe, notwithstanding the longitudinalmovement of the shoe and the arouate movement of the arms. While theshoe is raised as a result of the application of power to the arm 45, itreturns to its lowermost inoperative position by gravity, its descentbeing arrested by means of a heel 47 upon the arm 45, engageable withthe stop bar 27.

Both arms 44 and 45 are pivotally connected with the shoe 42, at 43 and49 respectively, and connected with the pivot 49 is one end of a link50, the other end of which is pivotally connected with a rock arm 51mounted upon the same bearing 52 as'the bell crank lever 25, andcarrying at its free end an anti-friction roller 53.

A detailed description of the shoe 42 in its relation to the operationof the throw-elf mechanism, as distinguished from its relation to theclamp members will be given in connection with a description of saidthrow-oil mechanism.

Carried by the frame of the machine, between the carriage 16 and themembers of the printing couple, is a tensioning mechanism consisting ofslotted fittings 54 at opposite sides of the machine. A roller 55 havinga friction surface is mounted in bearing blocks 56, slidaloly mounted inthe slotted portion of the fittings 54. A cap plate 57 projects acrossthe top of each fitting 54, this cap plate having openings therein forthe reception of guide pivot screws 58 and 59, tensioning springs 60 and61 being interposed between the heads of these pivot screws and saidplate.

Mounted in said plate. and engaging the bearing blocks 56 is anadjustment screw 62, by means of which the cap plate may be actuatedtoimpart the desired tension to the springs 60 and 61. A spring lock nut63 is used to hold the adjustment of the screw 62.

Carried by the fittings 54 is a platen 64 of anti-friction material,such as polished metal, the friction roller 55 being pressed incontinuous engaging relation with said platen 64 by the springs 60 and61. The purpose of this mechanism is merely to ofier sufficientresistance to the movements of the to limit the movements thereof by theclamp members to that determined by the setting for the actuating meansfor the carriage 16 and the overrun of the web during the followingprinting.

Acting upon the platen 64 is an eccentric shaft 55 provided with asquared end 66 by means of which the platen may be lowered to facilitatethe threading of the web through the machine and restored to itsoperative relation with the roller 55.

Between the tensioning mechanism last described and the members of theprinting couple is a weighted take-up roller 67 adapted to bear upon theweb at all times and ensure its appreach toward the members of theprinting couple at a proper angle to avoid interference of theimpression cylinder or D-roll with the. web, prior to its engagementtherewith, at the printing line. This roller 67 is carried by rock arms68 at'opposite sides of the machine, which rock arms each carry anadjusting screw 69 by means of which the take-up roller may beaccurately located to secure the desired angle of approach of the web.The adjusting screws 69 engage steps 70 upon the fram of the machine.

It'is obvious that the retograde movement of the web must be timed inrelation to the making or" an impression by each plate upon the platecylinder 16. In other words, there must be associated with each plateupon th cylinder, a part of the actuating mechanism for determining thetiming or" theoperation of the clamping members, so far as theirengagement o'r' disengagement with the web is concerned, and of themovements of the actuating-means for the carriage carrying the clampingmembers toward and fromthe printing couple, to ensure accuracy in thetiming of the retrograde movement of the web resulting from thismovement of the carriage and the engagement of the clamping members.

In theembodirnent of the invention shown in the drawings, I employ twocams adjacent each plate 12. 13 or 14, one of which cams is engageablewith the roller 26 and the oth r of which is engageable with the roller53 upon the rock arm 51. The cams associated with each plate areidentical with those associated with each'of the otherplates, so that adescription of but one of these sets of cams is necessary.

The cam engageable with the roller 26 is shown at Zl, this carnhaving arise 72 and a fall '73, the di tance between the rise and fallapproximating the length of the printing plate, or slightly in excessthereof. The portion '74 of the cam carrying the fall 73 is adjustabl inrelation to the part of the cam carrying the rise 72, so as toadapt themachine for use with plates of dif- IOU The cam co-operating with theroller 53 carried by the arm 51 is shown at 15, said cam having a rise76 and a fall 7'7. The portion 78 of the cam carrying the fall '77 isadjustable in relation to the part '75 of the cam for the same reasonthat the parts 71 and 74 or" the carriage actuating cam are adjustable,that is, to permit adjustment of the length of the cam according to thelength of plate or design thereon.

The arbor of the plate cylinder is provided with a cam carrying spider'79, to which the cam section 71 is adjustably connected by the slot andbolt connections 80. The cam part 74 is connected to the cam part 71 bythe slot and bolt connections 81. The cam part 75 is connected to thecam spider '79 by the slot and bolt connections 82, while the cam part'78 is connected with cam part '75 by means of the slot and boltconnection 83. The means of mounting the cams is merely a mechani alexpedient and forms no part or" the present invention.

In a machine adapted for use with plates of different len ths, or havingthereon designs of different lengths, it is required that the cams be somounted as to be susceptible to nicety in the adjustment of the rise andthe fall thereof in relation to the forward edge of the design upon theplate, and in relation to the disengagement of the impression cylinderor D-roll with the rear edge of the plate. The location of the rise uponeach cam is determined by the initial engag ment of the blanket of theimpression cylinder or D-roll with the plate, and is not coincident withthe forward edge of the plate. This appears in Fig. 1 of the drawings.Furthermore, the clamp actuating cam has its fall so positioned that theclamp will be set substantially simultaneously with or immediately priorto the passage of the rear edge of the plate from engagement with theimpression cylinder or D-roll. in setting the cams, the impression ofthe blanket and the makeready of the impression cylinder must be takeninto account, as when extremely heavy pressures are used there is aflattening of the makeready for a material distance from the point ofinitial contact thereof with the plate.

In connection with the makeready of the impression cylinder or Enroll,attention is directed to the fact that care, during the makeready or"the machine, must be exercised to ensure the engagement of the blanketwith the plate at approximately the forward edge of the lines of thedesigns upon the plate, since feeding of the web by the printing coupleshould occur only substantially simultaneously with the beginning of themaking of the impression and disengagement oi the blanket with the plateas nearly as possible substantially simultaneously with the completionof the making or" the impression to limit the overfeeding of the web asmuch as possible.

I will now describe the throw-oft mechanism in its relation to theactuating means for the clamp members and the actuating mechanism forimporting movement to said clamp members.

It is customary to equip machines of the type to which the inventionrelates with a throw-off mechanism by means of which the making ofimpressions is interrupted or by which the machine may be operatedwithout making impressions as when cleaning the machine, makingadjustments therein and preparing for a run. The throw-oil mechanismshown in the drawings is that employed in the machine of Letters Patentherein referred to, so a detailed description of the mechanism isunnecessary particularly as it may take a wide range of forms beyondthat shown.

' It'is desirable in connection with the machine of the presentinvention to provide means whereby, notwithstanding the continuedrotation of the plate cylinder and the cams rotating therewith, thecarriage l6 and the clamp members carried thereby will be madeinoperative to change the relation of the web to the printing couplewhile impressions are not being made, and the clamp members will becontinued in a set position to avoid accidental movement of the webunder these conditions. v

To accomplish this result the shoe 42 is made in two sections 84 and 85,one of which carries the pivots 48 and 49 upon which the rock arms 44and 45 are mounted and the other of which 85 is provided with elongatedslots 86 to permit sliding movement of this part in relation to the part84. Each part 84' and 85 is provided with a recess 87 or 88, which arenormally out of register so as to present an uninterrupted shoe surfaceto the roller 41.

Pivotally connected with the part 85 is one end of a link 89, the otherend of which is connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 90. Theother arm of this lever is connected by a link 91 with one arm of a bellcrank lever 92, the other arm of which is pivotally connected with thesliding actuating link 93 of the printing couple throwoff mechanism. 'vith this construction, the actuation of the throw-oil link 93 will bringthe two recesses 37 and 88 in alinement with each other when the shoeapproaches engaging relation with the roller 53 so that continued upwardmovement of the shoe will impart no movement to the arm 40. As shown inFig. 2 of the drawings, the registration of the openings 87 and 88results in part from the movements of the link 89 and in part from theupward movement imparted to the shoe, said link imparting an overthrowof the shoe part 85 to compensate for a longitudinal movement of thepart 84 by the rock arms 44 and 45. As a consequencawhen the throw-offmechanism is set the cam 75 will continue to raise and lower the shoe42, but such movement of the shoe will not separate the clamp members32--34 so that they will continue to grip the web and hold it againstmovement toward the printing couple. In fact, the purpose of thismechanism is merely to prevent movement of the web when the throw-offmechanism is actu ated.

It is necessary, however, to avoid the creation of slack in the web whenthe throw-off mechanism is operative that no reciprocatory movementshall be imparted to the carriage. Hence, I provide means consisting ofa stud 94 carried by one arm of the bell crank lever 25 adjacent theroller 25 co-operating with a latch hook 95 pivoted at 96 and havingtherein an arcuate slot $7. The bell crank lever has pivoted thereto oneend of a link 98, the other end of which carries a stud slidable in thearcuate slot 9?. Normally, the lever 90 will maintain the latch memberout of engaging relation with the stud 94 and thus permit freeoscillatory movement of the bell crank lever 25. When, however, the bellcrank lever 90 is actuated as a result of the actuation of the throw-offmechanism, the latch hook 95 is permitted to engage the stud 94 so as tohold the said bell crank lever 25 in a position where the roller 26cannot be engaged by its actuating cam '71. Consequently, the actuationof the throw-off mechanism will not only prevent the disengagement ofthe clamp members, but will also prevent the oscillations of thecarriage so long as the throw-01f mechanism is operative.

The spring rods 17 and 35 are of the usual construction, the rod itselfbeing slidable in a bearing in a suitable spring seat upon the frame ofthe machine, as to the rod 17, and upon the carriage ideas to the rod35, the springs of these rods being seated between said spring seatsrespectively and adjustable spring seats 99 and 100 upon said rods.

web is shown at 43.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially asfolloWs:--

In describing the operation of the machine, it will be assumed that theparts are approaching a position toward the completion of the making ofan impression from the plate 12, and that the blanket on the impressioncylinder or D-roll is still engaged with said plate. At this time, thecarriage 16 is held in its retracted position, or its position mostremote from the members of the printing couple, by the action of the cam'71 upon the roller 28; and the engagement of the roller 53 with theclamp actuating cam 75 is holding the clamp members 3234 apart so as topermit the free run of the web as a result of its engagement between theplate 12 and the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll 11.While I refer to the free run of the web, it will be understood that thetensioning mechanism 54-434 while the clamp members 3234 are disengagedfrom the web will if used ensure the development of a proper tension ofthe Web to avoid wrinkling, and that the weighted take-up roller 67between said tensioning mechanism and the members 10-11 of the printingcouple, will ensure the desired direction of run or" the web.

Immediately prior to the disengagement of the blanket upon theimpression cylinder or D-roll from the plate 12, the fall '77 of theclamp actuating cam 75 permits the descent of the rock arm 51 and or"the shoe 42, and the spring of the '7 spring rod 35 to rock the bellcrank lever 36 in a manner to force the clamp member 32 downwardly so asto grip the web between it and the platen 34. During this actuation ofthe clamp members, the fall 73 of the cam 71 will have passed the roller26, thus permitting the spring or th spring rod 17 to advance thecarriage 16 towards the rrembers of the printing couple, the roller 26following the fall of the cam so as to control iis carriage movement. Itis'preferable that the fall of the cam be so formed that the rate oftravel or" the carriage 16 will be the same as that of the web by themembers of the printing couple. During this carriage movement, the clampmembers 32-34 are in their engaging relation to the web, and thecarriage movement is accurately timed in relation to the web. Hence,

during the run of the web, toward the conclusion of the making of theimpression, the carriage 16 will travel with the web, and stoppage '3 ofthe carriage, inasmuch as the clamp members '7 clar n members h wever,be closed only substant lly simultaneously with the conclusion of thecarriage movement by adjustment of the cam part 73in relation to the campart '74 so as to delay the engagement of the clamp members. When duringthe carriage 'moveinent toward the printing couple, the clamp membersare in their web disengaged relation, it is necessary that the fall 77of the cam 75 shall be so set as to cause the clamp members to engagethe web substantially simultaneously with the termination of thecarriage movement and with the disengagement or" the impression cylinderor D-roll from the plate.

Following these operations, and prior to the engagement of the blanketof the impression cylinder or Dro1l with the succeeding plate 13, whilethe clamp members are" still engaged with the web, the rise 72 of thecam 71 by engagement with the roller 26, will through the oscillation ofthe bell crank lever 25, impart a contra-clockwise movement to thesegment 24, thus actuating the gear train 2223 in a manner to impartmovement to the carriage 16 away from the members of the printingcouple. The amount of this movement is determined by the setting or" theadjusting screw 28, and may by means of this screw be determined withgreat nicety. Of course, the screw 28 does not have this effect by alimitation of the contra-clockwise movement of the bell crank lever bythe cam, this being determined by the formation of the cam itself andthe resistance to this return movement resulting from the compression ofthe spring of the spring rod 17, which during this operation holds theroller 26 against the cam. The rise 72 of the cam 71 imparting thisreciprocation of the carriage 16 against the tension of the spring ofthe spring rod 17. is associated with the plate 13. Following thismovement of the bell crank lever 25, it will be held in this position bythe cam 71 during the printing interval.

Immediately upon the completion of the movement of the carriage 16 awayfrom the members or" the printing couple, the rise '76 of the cam 75associated with the plate 13 by engagement with the roller 53 lifts thearm 51, movement of which arm through the link rocking the arms 44-45with a contra-clockwise movement, and through the elevation of the shoe42 similarly rocking the arm 40. The shoe 42 has a parallel verticalmovement accompanied by movement away from the printing couple, asaresult of the arcuate movement of the arms 44 45. During the upwardmovement of the shoe 42, it engages the roller 41 upon the arm 40 thusrocking the shaft 39 of the bell crank lever'36 against the tension ofthe spring of the spring rod 35 and moving the clamp member 32 away fromthe clamp member 34. This movement may be so nicely timed by a propersetting of the cam that it occurs substantially simultaneously with theengagement of the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll with thedesign upon the plate 13. This relation of parts will be maintained bythe cams Hand 75 until towards the completion of the making or" theimpression by the plate 13 and the impression cylinder or D-roll. Thecycle of opera tion immediately above described is then repeated, inrelation to the plates 13 and 14. This operation occurs as to everyplate, and the cycle is substantially as follows:

Advancement or" the carriage carrying the clamp members toward theimpression cylinder or D-roll during the making of an impression by oneplate, during a portion only of which advancement the clamp members maybe engaged with the web, the carriage speed being in step with thetravel of the Web. If desired, however, the setting of the cam 75 may besuch as to maintain the clamping members 32 and 34 out of engagementwith the web during this movement of the carriage 16 and cause theengagement of said members with the Web substantially simultaneouslywith the passage of the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll outof printing relation to the plate. In either case, the clamping members32 and 34 will be operative when the feeding stresses upon the web, fromthe members of the printing couple, are relieved. Immediatelythereafter, and prior to the engagement of the next plate 13 by theimpression cylinder or D-roll, the carriage receives movement away fromthe printing couple while the clamp members are set upon the web, thusdrawing the web back to an amount substantially equal to the unavoidableover-run or" the web, so that each succeeding impression will be broughtclose to the preceding impression. This backward movement of the web isfollowed by a release of the web by the clamping members to permit thedrawing of the web through the machine by the impression cylinder orD-roll and the plate.

In order to limit the quantity of movement required of the carriage 16,the makeready of the impression cylinder or D-roll should be such as toensure the engagement of its blanket with only that portion of the platehaving the design thereon as otherwise there will be a likelihood of thesmudging of the impression and offsetting upon the blanket of theimpression cylinder or D-roll and excessive movement of the web by theclamp members will be required.

So far as the limitation of the amount of movement of the carriage 16 isconcerned, this is secured by so setting the adjustment screw 28 thatthe movement of the bell crank lever 25 will be so limited in itsclockwise movement as to permit the springs of the spring rods 17 tomove the carriage 16 a distance which will permit movement of thecarriage in the other direction to the desired extent only.

When the cams 71 and "15 are so set in relation to'each' other and tothe plate with which they are associated, as to cause engagement of theclamp members with the web and movement of the carriage 16 at the samespeed as the web, toward the completion of the making of the i311-pression, the tensioning mechanism 54-64 may be dispensed with ifdesired, although I prefer to use this tensioning mechanism,irrespective of the timing of the setting of the clamp members, asaffording an additional safeguard for ensuring an even running of theweb to secure its proper tensioning at times when the clamp members aredisengaged therefrom.

The operation of the throw-on mechanism upon the actuating means for theclamp members and for the drawback carriage needs no furtherdescription, it being understood that when this mechanism is operative,the clamp members will be in engagement with the web at all times untilthe throw-on mechanism is employed to cause the operation of the machineto resume the making of impressions.

The cams 71 and 75 may be adjusted circumferentially of the platecylinder to synchronize the timing in the operation of the clamp membersand the drawback mechanism with due regard to the length of a plate usedupon the plate cylinder. If only one plate be used upon the cylinder,the other cams may be removed therefrom. This, however, will seldomoccur.

If it be desired to operate the machine with succeeding impressionsspaced apart so o leave a margin about each impression, the adjustmentscrew 28 may be so set as to maintain the roller 25 out of the path ofth cam 71 and to hold the carriage tationary in its retracted position.When the machine is so set, the actuation of the shoe 4.4 will resultmerely in an intermittent engagement and disengagement of the clampmembers with the web. so that these members will act merely to check therun of the web following the making of each impression and permit thefree run thereof during the making of each impression, and the settingof the cam 75 must be such as to result in the engagement of the clampmembers with the web only substantially simultaneously with thedisengagement or" the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll fromthe plate. If desired, however, the clamp member 32 may be blocked inits elevated position, thus bringing the rock arm 40 out of theoperative range of the shoe 42 and maintaining the clamp members 32 andE i out of engagement with the web at all times during the run of themachine.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent thatsuch be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is:- V

1. A rotary web undersuriace printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder, and means making said clamp members inoperative upon theweb during the making or" an impression, and for making said clampmembers operative upon the web during movement of said clamp membersfrom said plate cylinder.

2. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombina ion with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, a tensioning mechanismbetween said clamp members and said plate cylinder, means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder, and means making said clamp members inoperative upon theweb during the making of an impression, and for making said clampmembers operative upon the web during movement of said clamp membersfrom said plate cylinder.

3. A rotary web undersuriace printing machine embodying therein necombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, and a throw-01f mechanism whereby said cylinders may be madeinoperative, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder, means making said clamp members inoperative upon the webduring the making of an impression, and for making said clamp membersoperative upon the web during movement of said clamp members from saidplate cylinder, and connections between said throw-off mechanism and themeans for imparting movement to said clamp members whereby,simultaneously with the operation of said throw-ofi mechanism to makesaid cylinders inoperative, movement of the clamp members toward andfrom the plate cylinder is prevented.

4. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, and a throw-off mechanism whereby said cylinders may be madeinoperative, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web. means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder, means making said clamp members inoperative upon the webduring the making of an impression, and for making said clampmembersoperative upon the web during movement of said clamp members from saidplate cylinder, and connections between said throw-off mechanism andsaid means for making the clamp members inoperative whereby,simultaneously with the operation of said throwoff mechanism to makesaid cylinders inoperative, actuation of said means making said clamp,mernbers inoperative is prevented.

5. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, and a throw-oh mechanism whereby said cylinders may be madeinoperative, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder; means making said clamp members inoperative upon the webduring the making of an impression, and for making said clamp membersoperative upon the web during movement of said clamp members from saidplate cylinder, connections between said throw-oi? mechanism and themeans for imparting movement to said clamp members whereby,simultaneously with the operation or" said throw-oi? mechanism to makesaid cylinders inoperative, movement of the clamp members toward andfrom the plate cylinder is prevented, and con carriage alternatelytoward and from the plate cylinder including a cam carried by androtatable with the plate cylinder adjacent each plate thereon, meansactuated by said cams respec-. tively, and connections between saidmeans and said carriage, and means making said clamp members inoperativeupon the web during the making of an impression and for making saidclamp members operative upon the web during movement of said carriageaway from said plate cylinder.

7. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of a reciprocatory carriage, clamp members upon said carriage,actuating means for moving said carriage alternately toward and from theplate cylinder including a cam carried by and rotatable with the platecylinder adjacent each plate thereon, means actuated by said camsrespectively, and connections between said means and said carriage,adjustable means controlling the length of reciprocatory movement ofsaid carriage, and means making said clamp members inoperative upon theWeb during the making of an impression and for making said clamp membersoperative upon the web during movement of said carriage away from saidplate cylinder.

8. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an im pression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of a reciprocatory carriage, clamp members upon said carriage, actuating means for moving said carriage alternately toward and from theplate cylinder including a cam carried by and rotatable with the platecylindenadjacent each plate thereon, a bell crank lever co-operatingwith said cams respectively, and connections between said bell cranklever and said carriage, and means making said clamp members inoperativeupon the web during the making of an impression and for making saidclamp members operative upon the web during movement of said carriagefrom said plate cylinder.

9. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of a reciprocatory carriage, clamp members upon said carriage,actuating means for moving said carriage alternately toward and from theplate cylinder including a rack upon said carriage, a gear enmeshed withsaid rack, a bell crank lever, a gear segment on one arm thereof, ashaft, gears upon said shaft enmeshed respectively with said segment,and with said gear enmeshed with said rack, a cam carried by androtatable with the plate cylinder adjacent eachplate thereon operativeupon the other arm of said bell crank lever, a stop adjacent one arm ofsaid bell crank lever and an adjustment screw carried by said arm,cooperating with said stop whereby the length of movement of saidcarriage is defined, and means making said clamp members inoperativeupon the web during the making of an impression, and for making saidclamp members operative upon ti e web during movement of said carriagefrom plate cylinder.

10. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of a reciprocatory carriage, clamp members upon said carriage,actuating means for moving said carriage alternately toward and from theplate cyl-- inder including springs having a thrust upon said carriagetoward said plate cylinder, a rack; upon said carriage, a gear enmeshedwith said rack, a bell crank lever, a segment on one arm thereof, ashaft, gears upon said shaft enmeshed respectively with said segment,and with said gear enmeshed with rack, a cam carried by and rotatablewith the plate cylinder adjacent each plate thereon operative upon theother arm or" said bell crank lever, a stop adjacent one arm 01 saidbell cranl: lever and an adjustment screw carried by said arm,co-operating with said stop whereby the length of movement of saidcarriage is defined, and means making said clamp members inoperativeupon the web during the making of an impression, and for melting saidclamp members operative upon the web during movement of said carriagefrom said plate cylinder.

11. A rotary web undersuriace printing ma chine embodying therein thecombination with an impre on cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement, including therein a pairof clamp bars, one of which is movable toward and from the other intoand out of engaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a bell cranklever, one arm of which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, aspring acting on the other arm of said lever with a normal tendency toengage said movable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock arm onshaft, actuating means for said rock arm including a shoe engageabletherewith, a cam carried by and rotatablewith the plate cylinderadjacent each plate thereon, means actuated by said cams respectively,connections between said means and said shoe whereby said clamp bars arealternate- 1y engaged with, and disengaged from, a web, and means formoving said clamp members alternately toward and from said platecylinder.

12. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecomb cation with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing ele ments in spaced relation to eachotheryof means controlling the web movement, including therein a pair ofclamp bars, one of which is movable toward and from th other into andout of engaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a bell crank lever,one arm of which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, a springacting on the other arm of said lever with a normal tendency to engagesaid movable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock arm on saidshaft, actuating means for said rock arm including a shoe engageabletherewith, whereby said clamp bars are alternately engaged with, anddisengaged from, a web, parallel rock arms supporting said shoe, a camcarried by and rotatable with the plate cylinder adjacent each platethereon, a rock arm ctuated by said cams respectively, connectionsbetween said last named rock arm and one of said first named rocl; arms,a stop one of said first named rock arms, a heel carried by saidadjacent rock arm engageable with said stop, and means for moving saidclamp members alternately toward and from said plate cylinder.

13. A rotary web undersuriace printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, or" means controlling the web movement including ther in areciprocatory carriage, actuating means for moving said carriagealternately toward and from the plate cylinder including a cam carriedby and rotatable with the plate cylinder adjacent each plate thereon,means actuated by said cams respectively, and connections between saidmeans and said carriage, a pair of clamp bars carried by said carriage,one of which is movable toward and from the other into and out ofengaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a'bell crank lever, one armof which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, a spring acting onthe other arm of said lever with a normal tendency to engage saidmovable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock arm on said shaft,actuating means for said rock arm includin a shoe engageable therewith,a cam carried by and rotatable with the plate cylinder adjacenteachplate thereon, means actuated by said cams respectively, andconnections between said means and said shoe whereby said clamp bars arealternately engaged with, and disengaged from, a web.

14. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of a reciprocatory carriage, clamp members upon said carriage,actuating means for moving said carriage alternately toward and from theplate cylinder including a cam. carried by and rotatable with the platecylinder adjacent each plate thereon, the cams adjacent each platecomprising a plurality of sections adjustable circumferentially or? thecylinder and in relation to each other, one of said sections having arise and the other having a fall, means actuated by said camsrespectively, and connections between said-means and said carriage andmeans making said clamp members inoperative upon. the web during themaking of an impression and for making said clamp members operative uponthe web during movement of said carriage away from said plate cylinder.

15. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement, including therein.

a pair or" clamp bars, one of which is movable toward and from the otherinto and out of engaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a bell cranklever, one arm of which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, aspring acting on the other arm oi said lever with a normal tendency toengage said movable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock. arm onsaid shaft, actuating means for said rock arm including a shoeengageable therewith, a cam carried by and rotatable ith the platecylinder adjacent each plate thereon, the cams adjacent each platecomprising a plurality of sections adjustable circumferentially of thecylinder and in relation to each other, one or" said sections having arise and the other having a fall, means actuated by said camsrespectively, and connections between said means and said shoe wherebysaid clamp are alternately engaged with, and disengaged from. a web, andmeans for moving said clamp members alternately toward and from saidplate cylinder.

16. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement including therein areciprocatory carriage, actuating means for moving said carriagealternately toward and from the plate cylinder including a cam carriedby and rotatable with the plate cylinder adjacent each plate thereon,means actuated by said cams respectively, and connections between saidmeans and said carriage, a pair of clamp bars carried by said carriage,one of which is movable toward and from the other into and out ofengaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a bell crank lever, one armof which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, a spring acting onthe other arm of said lever with a normal tendency to engage saidmovable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock arm on said shaft,actuating means for said rock arm including a. shoe engageabletherewith, a cam carried by and rotatable with the plate cylinderadjacent each plate thereon, means actuated by said cams respectively,connections between said means and said shoe whereby said clamp bars arealternately engaged with, and disengaged from, a web, each of said camsadjacent each plate comprising a plurality of sections adjustablecircumferentially of the cylinder and in relation to each other, one ofsaid sections having a rise and the other having a fall.

17. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, a tension mechanismcomprising a platen between said clamp members and said plate cylinder,a friction roller co-operating with said platen, and means yieldablyforcing said roller toward said platen, means actuating said clampmembers to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from the platecylinder, and means making said clamp members inoperative upon the webduring the making of an impression, and for making said clamp membersoperative upon the web during movement of said clamp members from saidplate cylinder.

18. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, and a throw-off mechanism whereby said cylinders may be madeinoperative, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, means actuating saidclamp members to alternately impart movement thereto toward and from theplate cylinder, means making said clamp members inoperative upon the webduring the making of an impression, and for making said clamp membersoperative upon the web during movement of said clamp members from saidplate cylinder, a bell crank lever, a lock member, a memher engageablethereby carried by the means imparting movement to the clamp memberstoward and from the plate cylinder, a link having a lost motionconnection with said lock member and with one arm of said bell cranklever, a second bell crank lever, one arm of which is engageable by saidthrow-off mechanism, and a link connecting the other arms of both ofsaid bell crank levers whereby, simultaneously with the operation ofsaid throw-off mechanism to make said cylinders inoperative, movement ofthe clamp members toward and from the plate cylinder is prevented.

19. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, and a throw-off mechanism whereby said cylinders may be madeinoperative, of means controlling the web movement, including therein apair of clamp bars, one of which is movable toward and from the otherinto and out of engaging relation with a web, a rock shaft, a bell cranklever, one arm of which is engageable with said movable clamp bar, aspring acting on the other arm of said lever with a normal tendency toengage said movable clamp bar with said fixed clamp bar, a rock arm onsaid shaft, actuating means for said rock arm including a shoeengageable therewith, said shoe comprising two relatively movablesections each having a recess therein, said recesses normally being outof register, a cam carried by and rotatable with the plate cylinderadjacent each plate thereon, means actuated by said cams respectively,connections between said means and said shoe whereby said clamp bars arealternately engaged with, and disengaged from, a web, means for movingsaid clamp members alternately toward and from said plate cylinder, abell crank lever, a link connection between one arm of said bell cranklever and said movable shoe section, a second bell crank lever, one armof which is engageable by said throw-off mechanism, and a linkconnecting the other arms of both of said bell crank levers whereby,simultaneously with the operation of said throw-off mechanism to makesaid cylinders inoperative, the recesses in said shoe sections will beregistered to prevent engagement of said shoe with said rock arm;

20. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein thecombination with an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder adapted toreceive a plurality of printing elements in spaced relation to eachother, of means controlling the web movement including thereinco-operating clamp members operative upon a web, a tension mechanismbetween said clamp members and said plate cylinder, a weighted guideroller between said tensioning mechanism and said cylinders, meanswhereby the position of said guide roller may be adjusted, meansactuating said clamp members to alternately impart movement theretotoward and from the plate cylinder, and means making said clamp membersinoperative upon the web during the making of an impression, and formaking said clamp members operative upon the web during movement of saidclamp members from said plate cylinder.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT.

